Church Times - Cartoon: What the bishops were doing whilst civil partnerships in church were being voted on

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Cartoon: What the bishops were doing whilst civil partnerships in church were being voted on

03/03/2010 17:00:00

Martin Beckford noted on Twitter that only two bishops voted on allowing civil partnerships in church. I wonder where they all were?

Cartoon: Dave Walker.

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What a lovely scoop on the activities of C.of E. Bishops while the 'Civil Partnerships measure was voted on to allow Church Blessings. It is quite consonant with their lack of concern for the spiritual care of those in their flocks who would like to have the blessing of the Church on their same-sex committed relationships.
I suppose +Durham was still in the USA delivering anathemas to TEC and the A.C.of C. for their daring to offer support to gays and women.

Father Ron Smith | 03/03/2010 21:54:30

It is so sad that when one opposes gay legislation to gaurantee religious freedom then one is attacked. Gay unions are not compatible with Cathollic or anglocatholic without diluting the tradition

Jaan Sass | 03/03/2010 22:59:38

Great cartoon, might I have permission to post on my blog?

Ruth Gledhill | 04/03/2010 10:21:52

Ruth - see my e-mail. Dave

Dave Walker | 04/03/2010 10:52:33

The main reason they wre absent was that there was (whether by design or design) very short notice.

Christopher Shell | 04/03/2010 12:27:07

Very short notice? The Times published a letter from sixteen bishops and former bishops about the forthcoming debate a full seven days earlier.

Guy Bentham | 04/03/2010 13:52:12

Great cartoon, Dave

I presume +Newcastle is the duty bishop this week and +Winchester was there because he wanted to be.

My See doesn't come with a Lord's seat but I know how hard it is to rejig a diary at seven to ten days notice.

I think most bishops are relaxed about the Ali amendment as it won't affect C of E clergy directly; they will still be prohibited from presiding at CPs. Religious groups that want to host CPs should have every right to do so.

David Walker | 04/03/2010 21:10:50

Guy

Bishops are quite often booked 18 months in advance.

No idea what they *were* doing, but all I have seen are a lot of lazy, finger-jabby assumptions (see the TA comment thread) with no evidence, and

Sorry, Dave - not as well judged as usual in my view.

Matt Wardman | 04/03/2010 21:50:54

My favourite bit is where he draws bishops in full vestments performing mundane household tasks.

Stefan | 05/03/2010 23:57:49

So long as Bishops have seats in teh ouse of Lords they should engage in the politcal process just as actively as those elected to the parliament. So far as the civil partnerships go, the lack of engagement whatever view they take is deplorable.

John Clapton | 06/03/2010 03:23:58

7 days is a short time when the vast majority of you not only have full diaries but live in different parts of the country. Simplest would be to ask them individually whether they would have been there if they could.